Fix claims may taint Aussie heroics, says Ponting

Australian captain Ricky Ponting said Monday he feared some great individual performances by his players will be "tainted" if allegations of cheating by Pakistan rivals are proven.

Australia's remarkable come-from-behind victory against Pakistan in Sydney in January has been shrouded by claims of fixing against Pakistan during their Test series against England this month.

The alleged fixer was reportedly videoed in a British newspaper sting boasting that the Sydney Test was rigged.

Ponting said he had no suspicions about the game at the time but admitted he now wasn't so sure.

"Not at the time, no, I had no idea about anything like that at all," Ponting told national radio.

"The way we won was one of the more satisfying moments that I've had on the cricket field.

"And now when some of these things come to light is when you start to slightly doubt some of the things that have happened. It's not up to us to worry about that anyway."

Ponting said he was concerned the fixing allegations could overshadow the efforts of some of his players.

"The thing that I'm most worried about if any of this is proven to be true is some of the individual performances that took place in that game," he said.

"You look at Mike Hussey's second innings hundred (134 not out) and Peter Siddle's batting (3) and the way he was with Hussey that day and Nathan Hauritz taking five wickets on the final day to win us the game.

"All of those individual milestones will be tainted as well."

There have been lingering suspicions over the authenticity of the outcome of the Sydney Test as Australia recovered from 257 for eight to put on 124 runs for the last two wickets.

Hussey was dropped three times by wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal on his way to an unbeaten 134 with the aid of some unusual field placings to leave Pakistan 176 for victory.

Akmal dropped a total of four catches and missed an easy run-out during Australia's second innings. Pakistan then lost their last nine wickets for 89 runs to ensure Australia an unlikely victory.